It’s the time of year that we all set goals, make resolutions to change as we look to the future. How are you doing? Did you keep those personal promises more than a few weeks or maybe a month? Look at your list of resolutions from past years. What do they say about you? How many have appeared on the list several different years?

Many of us feel a sense of guilt when we fail to fulfill our resolutions, our promises to ourselves, for more than a few short weeks. Did we really give it our best effort? Were our goals realistic or not specific enough to maintain our focus? What could we have done differently to succeed? We all have many distractions that interfere with our best laid plans.

The best answer may be from 2 Peter 1, when he reminds us that God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness. As we grow in our faith we are encouraged to add to that faith, goodness. Then the sequence continues from goodness to knowledge, to self-control, to perseverance, to godliness, to brotherly kindness and to love. Finally in verses 10 and 11 we are told, “For if you do these things, you will never fall and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Regardless of our best efforts, we all fail; we all fall short of perfection. This is when Isaiah 43 can lift us up. The Lord who created us has redeemed us. We don’t need to be afraid. He has called us by name and we are His. The Lord says in verse 2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.” We are not going through this life alone!

This is the message the world needs to hear. As we see the troubling news around the world, recognize the challenges closer to home or know that we don’t always take advantage of the opportunities presented to us, what can we do to make a difference?

Share the Good News that Christ has paid the price to erase our shortcomings and that same gift we gratefully receive is available to everyone. You can make a difference now and by planning for the time Peter talked about joining Christ in the eternal kingdom. Make plans now by writing or updating your Will or Revocable Living Trust to include a gift to your favorite ministry so the saving news of Jesus can be continually told to the world even as you celebrate the greatest gift, in Heaven.

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